​Megan Rapinoe has reignited her long-running clash with Donald Trump by arguing that the president’s involvement in the Folarin Balogun red card controversy contributed to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s disappointing 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16. The controversy began when Balogun was sent off during the USMNT’s Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering an automatic one-game suspension that would have kept him out of the Belgium match. According to The Mirror US, Trump pressed FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the ruling, and the global governing body eventually suspended the ban, allowing Balogun to play. The president later conceded that he did not understand what a red card meant before the dispute, a detail reported by The Mirror US.
Rapinoe laid out her perspective on her podcast, A Touch More: The Beautiful Game, arguing that the surrounding turbulence affected the team’s focus ahead of the game. “I think the distraction got to the team for sure in some type of way,” she said. “Whether it was this red card situation, whether it was being in a public discourse with this president, all of the shenanigans and chaos that comes with the feelings on both sides of that. Whether you agree with it or not, it’s just like… It’s a lot to contend with.” She went on to question the maturity of the current USMNT roster in handling such off-field pressures, suggesting a lack of experience dealing with high-profile distractions.
“Not only does this team not have a core of older players who are used to that, but none of these players talk about anything ever, like, for the most part,” she continued. “I think in men’s football, just in general, there aren’t many players who choose to use their platform or broaden their scope of pressure and responsibility.” Rapinoe’s comments add another layer to the long-running public feud with Trump. The dispute first flared in 2019, when Rapinoe announced that she would decline a White House invitation if the USWNT won the Women’s World Cup. Trump responded on social media, telling her to “WIN first before you TALK.” After the United States won the title and the team’s subsequent victory, Rapinoe kept her pledge and did not visit the White House, opting instead to meet with Democratic lawmakers in Washington.
The conflict intensified in 2023 when Rapinoe missed a decisive penalty in the USWNT’s shootout defeat to Sweden in what would become her final international appearance. Trump commented on Truth Social at the time, mocking the moment with posts like “WOKE EQUALS FAILURE” and “Nice shot Megan, the USA is going to Hell!” Rapinoe’s latest remarks contribute to a continuing public dialogue about how off-field issues can ripple into on-field performance and team dynamics, especially for a squad that has frequently found itself under intense scrutiny from political and public figures.